Chapter 271
Chapter 271
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: Ruan Tieniu's News and the Gengjin Treasure Armor
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Xu Feng’s heart leaped with joy. He felt that offering the ‘Blood Coagulation Grass’ was absolutely worth it. A plant valued at a second-tier low-grade escape talisman had bought him the opportunity to befriend Chen Jianghe.
For him, this was no small stroke of fortune.
“It’s a pity I didn’t get to give him this Blood Coagulation Grass. Otherwise, I could have deepened my relationship with Grandmaster Chen.”
“Still, this is good enough. I won’t lack second-tier mid-grade talismans when I enter the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range in the future. But how am I supposed to find second-tier high-grade talisman materials? Sigh…”
Xu Feng thanked Chen Jianghe profusely.
He then quickly left Clearwater Cove to prepare the spirit stones for the second-tier mid-grade talismans and to figure out a way to obtain second-tier high-grade materials.
This was an opportunity he needed to seize.
As long as he could get his hands on second-tier high-grade talisman materials, he could take over Ruan Tieniu’s position with Chen Jianghe.
Watching Xu Feng leave.
Chen Jianghe did not return to his courtyard. Instead, he remained seated in the spirit field, calming his mind and cultivating the *Myriad Waters True Scripture*.
At a quarter past ten at night.
As darkness completely enveloped the land, a blurry figure appeared by the Clearwater River at the edge of the spirit field, melting into the shadows and becoming nearly invisible to the naked eye.
“It seems Ruan Tieniu has already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and his spiritual cultivation technique has reached the sixth level. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to transmit his voice to me from three hundred and fifty zhang away.”
After Chen Jianghe refined that Second Revolution Spirit Nurturing Pill, his spiritual sense had only just reached a range of three hundred fifty-six zhang and six feet.
His soul was different from ordinary people, and his spiritual sense was much stronger than that of cultivators at the same level.
Although he had only cultivated the *Soul Sea Foundation Solidifying Scripture* to the fifth level and had not yet reached perfection.
His spiritual sense was comparable to that of late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who had mastered the sixth level of their spiritual cultivation techniques.
Ruan Tieniu was three hundred and fifty zhang away, which indicated that his cultivation progress was quite rapid.
“Brother Ruan, have you found a spirit item that can heal the soul?”
Chen Jianghe sent a voice transmission.
“Brother Chen can indeed detect me. Your spiritual sense is truly formidable, even stronger than that of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!”
Ruan Tieniu stood three hundred and fifty zhang away, testing Chen Jianghe’s cultivation. If Chen Jianghe hadn’t been able to detect him, he would have moved closer.
But Chen Jianghe had given him quite a shock.
Three hundred and fifty zhang. With the support of the top experts in the Feng Kingdom and the gains from the Wind Snow Valley mystic realm, he had only recently reached this level.
He never expected Chen Jianghe’s spiritual sense to have reached this level as well.
How could he not be astonished?
‘It seems this Chen Jianghe is a bit stronger than I thought.’
However, he could sense that Chen Jianghe’s cultivation was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
For now, he was still slightly stronger than Chen Jianghe, as he was already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and even his physical body had been cultivated to the sixth level.
Seeing that Chen Jianghe had no intention of catching up, Ruan Tieniu cut to the chase. He took out a storage bag and sent it to a position a hundred zhang from Chen Jianghe.
“Brother Chen, this is an Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone, a second-tier top-grade soul-type spirit item. Although it can’t be directly refined into a spirit pill, keeping it nearby will emit soul power that can nurture the soul and slowly heal soul injuries. If Brother Chen needs to ask Lady Jinghong to refine an artifact, she will undoubtedly treat this Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone as an unparalleled treasure!”
Chen Jianghe drew the storage bag into his hand. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed a fist-sized, azure-blue heart-shaped stone lying inside, emitting the power of profound ice and a mysterious energy.
It was an extremely faint soul power.
Chen Jianghe naturally knew of the Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone. Not only could it nurture the soul and heal soul injuries.
It could also be used to condense one’s spiritual sense.
It was an exceptionally rare soul treasure.
Although it was only a second-tier top-grade spirit item, the true value of an Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone was no less than that of a quasi-third-tier treasure.
“Fortunately, the Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone can only heal soul injuries slowly and can’t directly awaken Lady Jinghong’s husband. Otherwise, I really couldn’t give this to her.”
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
At the same time, he gained some insight into the situation in the Feng Kingdom. They certainly had no Artifact Refining Grandmaster; otherwise, Ruan Tieniu wouldn’t have paid such a heavy price to ask for his help.
“Brother Ruan, come back in two years!”
“Two years? Isn’t that a bit long? Brother Chen, you don’t know the dangers of the Feng Kingdom. Although I am the Chief Grand Imperial Preceptor, many demonic cultivators have their eyes on this position. If I make one wrong move, you may never see your brother again.”
“If it’s so dangerous, why did you ask me to become the Chief Grand Imperial Preceptor back then, Brother Ruan?”
“If you had gone, brother, it wouldn’t be dangerous. You are a Talisman Grandmaster and would be protected in the Feng Kingdom. No rogue or demonic cultivator would dare to make a move on you.”
“Heh heh…”
Chen Jianghe gave a faint smile. Protected, he thought, more like turned into a talisman-making tool for the Feng Kingdom.
“One year is also possible, but Brother Ruan needs to answer a question for me.”
“Please speak, Brother Chen. With the friendship between us, I will surely tell you everything I know without holding back.”
“Is the Feng Kingdom truly supported by the Beast Taming Zhou Clan?”
“Brother Chen, you’ve asked the right person. But after I tell you, you must not spread it.”
Ruan Tieniu’s transmitted tone became somewhat smug.
“Normally, as the Chief Grand Imperial Preceptor, I wouldn’t be qualified to know the core secrets of the Feng Kingdom. But as it happens, I am a Core Formation seed for the kingdom, so this core secret is no longer a secret to me.”
“The Feng Kingdom and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan are currently in a cooperative relationship. However, the Zhou Clan has reached an agreement with a great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. I reckon it won’t be long before the relationship between the Zhou Clan and the Feng Kingdom becomes like that between the Tiannan Sect and the Qing and Qi Kingdoms.”
“In the future, Brother Chen, do not offend the people of the Beast Taming Zhou Clan. They may seem on the verge of annihilation, but they are actually gathering their strength for a great battle with the Tiannan Sect in the future.”
“The Beast Taming Zhou Clan’s ambitions are vast. Brother Chen should make preparations early and not get too close to the Tiannan Sect.”
“Heh heh… In one year, I will come to collect the spirit-nurturing defensive artifact.”
Ruan Tieniu’s figure sped away, disappearing from Chen Jianghe’s perception range.
Chen Jianghe did not move. He sat cross-legged on a large rock by the spirit field, his mind dwelling on Ruan Tieniu’s words.
“The Beast Taming Zhou Clan has reached some kind of agreement with a fourth-tier great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range?”
“A Core Formation immortal clan is qualified to cooperate with a fourth-tier great demon? It seems the treasure the Beast Taming Zhou Clan obtained in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range is far more than what I imagined.”
Previously, Chen Jianghe had thought that the great treasure the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had obtained might be a Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, or perhaps even a Five-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass.
Now it seemed it was something even more precious than a Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, which could enhance a demonic beast’s bloodline.
The Zhou Clan’s ambitions are vast?
Gathering strength?
A great battle with the Tiannan Sect?
Chen Jianghe felt it was somewhat surreal. The Tiannan Sect was the only sect in the Tiannan Domain. Not to mention its Foundation Establishment disciples, it had nearly a hundred Core Formation experts and even a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
For the Beast Taming Zhou Clan to contend with the Tiannan Sect, they would first need a Nascent Soul True Monarch, or a fourth-tier spirit beast.
As for that fourth-tier great demon in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range?
It likely wouldn’t fight to the death for them until the Beast Taming Zhou Clan possessed absolute strength of its own.
Conversely, once the Beast Taming Zhou Clan had a Nascent Soul True Monarch-level combatant, that fourth-tier great demon would surely ally with them.
But if that were the case, the Tiannan Sect would be in peril.
As Chen Jianghe pondered, the sky gradually brightened.
He stopped thinking about the Beast Taming Zhou Clan and the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. He only wanted to peacefully accumulate the resources needed to enter the unknown mystic realm.
As long as the Tiannan Sect and the Beast Taming Zhou Clan remained peaceful for the next thirty years, it had nothing to do with him.
After coming out of the unknown mystic realm, he would find a place to hide. Let them fight to the death for all he cared.
Chen Jianghe did not head straight back to his courtyard.
He flew through the air, heading towards the Immortal Gate Market City.
Since he had agreed to Ruan Tieniu’s request and accepted the payment, he had to get the job done.
“This Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone is more than enough to have Lady Jinghong refine a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact for Ruan Tieniu.”
In truth, a single high-quality Soothing and Soul-Stabilizing Pill would have been enough for Lady Jinghong to agree to refine a spirit-nurturing artifact.
But it couldn’t guarantee that she would actually refine one for Ruan Tieniu.
With this Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone, there was no need for such worries.
Arriving at the Immortal Gate Market City.
Chen Jianghe went straight to Fushou Street. Looking at the two rows of Longevity Bamboo, all of which were first-tier high-grade spirit plants.
It was clear that the cultivators residing on Fushou Street were of noble status.
Suddenly.
Chen Jianghe saw a person walking out of Lady Jinghong’s courtyard. He had the appearance of a young man, dressed in lavish clothes, with a face like jade and a handsome, striking presence.
There was not the slightest fluctuation of cultivation aura from his body.
He seemed just like a mortal from the secular world.
Abruptly, this handsome young man looked towards him.
His deep eyes were filled with authority.
“A Core Formation expert?!”
Chen Jianghe was horrified.
He couldn’t help but stop in his tracks, not daring to meet the man’s gaze.
Only after the Core Formation expert had left did he walk towards number thirty-six Fushou Street.
“This must be the Peak Lord from the Tiannan Sect who is on good terms with Lady Jinghong and her husband!”
“The feeling he gives me is only slightly inferior to True Master Chengtian, but he is much stronger than Perfected Yu Nie and Perfected Qingmu, and even stronger than Fairy Yunhua, True Master Mingjing, and Fairy Qingxin.”
“With him around, it’s no wonder those Core Formation experts don’t dare to seize the Core Formation spirit items from Lady Jinghong, even though they know she has them.”
Just as Chen Jianghe was about to reach the gate of courtyard number thirty-six, Lady Jinghong walked out. She first glanced at the golden light disappearing into the distant sky.
Then she looked at Chen Jianghe.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you must be here to see that sect disciple,” Lady Jinghong said in a gentle voice.
“No, I am here to see you today, my lady.”
“To see me?”
A look of pleasant surprise appeared in Lady Jinghong’s eyes, and she quickly asked, “Fellow Daoist, have you found a treasure that can heal the soul?”
“An Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone. I wonder if it would be of any use to you, my lady?”
“The second-tier top-grade spirit item, the Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone?!”
Lady Jinghong was overjoyed, her phoenix eyes shimmering with divine light. She naturally knew of the Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone’s power.
Although it couldn’t awaken her husband, it could prevent his soul injury from worsening and even slowly repair it.
In other words.
This Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone could extend her husband’s life, giving her more time to find the spirit pills and items needed to awaken him.
“What does Fellow Daoist Chen desire?”
After her initial joy, Lady Jinghong looked at Chen Jianghe and asked.
For such a treasure that could repair soul injuries and even condense spiritual sense, the other party would naturally not give it for free.
He must want something in return.
“I would like to ask you, my lady, to help me refine a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact,” Chen Jianghe transmitted his voice.
“Refine an artifact? Don’t you already have a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact, Fellow Daoist? Besides, the high-quality Soothing and Soul-Stabilizing Pill you gave me before was enough for me to help you refine one.”
“It is not for me, but for a friend.”
Lady Jinghong’s gaze sharpened, and she transmitted, “This friend of yours must be a cultivator from the Feng Kingdom!”
Chen Jianghe smiled without saying a word.
Someone willing to pay such a huge price to have a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact refined was certainly not an ordinary cultivator.
Furthermore, the person himself did not come to make the request.
This made it easy for Lady Jinghong to guess that Chen Jianghe was helping a cultivator from the Feng Kingdom or the Beast Taming Zhou Clan.
“In my eyes, there is no distinction between righteous and demonic. There are honest, loyal, and righteous people among demonic cultivators, just as there are scoundrels among righteous cultivators.”
Lady Jinghong sent a voice transmission, “You don’t need to tell me who he is. I will help you refine the spirit-nurturing defensive artifact, and I will keep it a secret for you, Fellow Daoist.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Jianghe’s face lit up with joy.
He hadn’t expected Lady Jinghong’s personality to be so similar to Luo Xiyue’s.
Luo Xiyue also didn’t care about the distinction between righteous and demonic.
The righteous cultivators who entered the mystic realm were even more vicious than the demonic cultivators, full of scheming and plotting.
“Thank you, my lady.”
Chen Jianghe took out a storage bag containing the materials for refining the spirit-nurturing defensive artifact, as well as the Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone.
However, Chen Jianghe had already used the Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword to shave off one-third of the Blood Fiend Gold Crystal.
This was part of the payment Ruan Tieniu had given him.
“Just refining a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact isn’t enough to repay the value of this Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone, plus the high-quality Soothing and Soul-Stabilizing Pill from last time. Consider me in your debt, Fellow Daoist.”
Lady Jinghong said.
“This Ice Heart Cold Soul Stone was a gift from my friend. Being able to secure your help is already a matter of great fortune. How could I dare to speak of favors?”
Chen Jianghe waved his hands dismissively.
Lady Jinghong didn’t say much more, transmitting, “Fellow Daoist, you may come to collect the spirit-nurturing defensive artifact in eight months.”
With that, Lady Jinghong returned to her courtyard.
Watching her go, Chen Jianghe felt more and more that her personality was too similar to Luo Xiyue’s.
“Are all female Artifact Refining Grandmasters like this? Following their hearts, only doing what they believe in, without considering profit or loss.”
Afterward, Chen Jianghe also left the Immortal Gate Market City.
Returning to his courtyard, Chen Jianghe entered his cultivation chamber and began to cultivate the *Myriad Waters True Scripture*.
Zhuang Xinyan and Jiang Ruxu’s cultivation was advancing rapidly.
Especially with the improvement of Jiang Ruxu’s alchemy skills, they lacked no resources and were practically hot on Chen Jianghe’s heels in their cultivation.
There were even faint signs of them surpassing him.
Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan both had four-element pseudo-spiritual roots, which were slightly faster than Chen Jianghe’s in absorbing and refining spiritual energy.
The last time Chen Jianghe had asked about Zhuang Xinyan’s cultivation progress, both women had already condensed over one hundred and forty drops of Foundation Establishment magic power.
If he didn’t step up his efforts, the two of them would break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment before him.
The speed at which an Alchemy Grandmaster capable of refining second-tier high-grade spirit pills could earn resources was unimaginable.
Jiang Ruxu could not only earn the cultivation resources she and Zhuang Xinyan needed but could also refine pills for Chen Jianghe.
And on top of that, she could still accumulate a massive amount of low-grade spirit stones.
The value of an Alchemy Grandmaster was simply too high.
It was far beyond what a Talisman Grandmaster could compare to.
After cultivating the *Myriad Waters True Scripture* for six hours, he began to charge the Purple Lightning Cloud Piercing Talisman with spiritual energy.
As for drawing second-tier mid-grade talismans.
He would finish this unfinished Purple Lightning Cloud Piercing Talisman first.
A month passed.
Chen Jianghe had an additional Purple Lightning Cloud Piercing Talisman in his hand.
He then began to work on drawing the Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman, the Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talisman, and the Rushing Thunder Talisman.
Time flowed on.
Another eight months passed.
It was now the end of the year.
Chen Jianghe had thirteen more second-tier mid-grade talismans in his possession.
Four Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans, four Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talismans, and five Rushing Thunder Talismans.
It was enough to meet Xu Feng’s needs.
He walked out of the cultivation chamber and glanced at Xiao Hei, Maoqiu, and Latiao, who were all cultivating diligently.
After Latiao’s bloodline had advanced to fourth-grade high-tier, its cultivation speed had increased significantly, and it was about to break through to the mid-stage of the second tier.
It could definitely reach the late stage of the second tier before the unknown mystic realm opened.
This brought Chen Jianghe great comfort.
Latiao’s increased cultivation diversified his combat methods. If he were truly forced to fight someone in the unknown mystic realm in the future, he wouldn’t be limited to just using talismans.
Stepping out of the courtyard gate.
He saw Yu Qirui and Xu Feng waiting there.
Yu Qirui came every year on the day before New Year’s Eve to buy high-grade spirit pills from Chen Jianghe.
This year, he had spent most of his time drawing second-tier mid-grade talismans, so the number of times he had refined high-grade spirit pills had been greatly reduced.
Including the spirit items drawn by Maoqiu.
The total was only two thousand eight hundred spirit stones.
Adding the three hundred spirit stones of income from the spirit field.
The total came to three thousand one hundred spirit stones.
After Yu Qirui left.
Xu Feng stepped forward and began to discuss the purchase of the talismans, still at the inflated market price.
One Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talisman for two thousand five hundred spirit stones.
One Azure Wood Immortal Shield Talisman for three thousand spirit stones.
One Rushing Thunder Talisman for four thousand spirit stones.
Logically, given the current inflated prices, the price of a Rushing Thunder Talisman should definitely be above four thousand spirit stones.
But considering Xu Feng had brought him three Three-Leaf Blood Lotus Grass, he couldn’t offer no discount at all.
So he rounded down the premium for this special type of spirit talisman.
Xu Feng had come well-prepared this time. He actually bought all thirteen second-tier mid-grade talismans.
Chen Jianghe guessed that he was probably buying a few for other demon hunters as well.
Chen Jianghe wasn’t angry about this.
Since he had agreed to Xu Feng’s plea and intended to help him, he naturally allowed him to use his talismans to build connections with other demon hunters.
The thirteen second-tier mid-grade talismans totaled forty-two thousand spirit stones.
With this large sum of income, Chen Jianghe now had eighty-nine thousand and fifty-six spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe had thought Xu Feng would leave after buying the second-tier mid-grade talismans.
Unexpectedly, Xu Feng took out three Thousand-Year Maple Leaves.
“Grandmaster Chen, I know that three Thousand-Year Maple Leaves are not enough to exchange for a second-tier high-grade talisman. I can make up the difference with spirit stones.”
“Which type of second-tier high-grade talisman do you want?”
“An escape talisman, is that possible?”
“A second-tier high-grade escape talisman? Possible. I’ll count each Thousand-Year Maple Leaf as five thousand spirit stones. You just need to add another fifteen thousand spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe said calmly.
He had a feeling that this second-tier high-grade escape talisman wasn’t for Xu Feng’s own use, but most likely a transaction on behalf of someone else.
Xu Feng did not yet have the wealth to purchase a second-tier high-grade escape talisman.
When Xu Feng produced fifteen thousand spirit stones, Chen Jianghe accepted them and gave him a Purple Lightning Cloud Piercing Talisman.
“Thank you, Grandmaster Chen. I will take my leave now.”
“Mm.”
Chen Jianghe nodded.
The next day.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the Immortal Gate Market City.
He first made a trip to number forty-two Fushou Street to buy fifteen thousand spirit stones’ worth of Giant Python Spirit Blood from Gao Peiyao.
Then he went to see Lady Jinghong again.
When Lady Jinghong opened the courtyard gate and came out, Chen Jianghe bowed with his hands clasped, “Greetings, my lady.”
“Fellow Daoist Chen.”
Lady Jinghong took out a storage bag, the same one that had held the materials before. But now, inside it was a spirit-nurturing defensive artifact.
“Your friend’s materials were heavily focused on Gengjin’s sharp aura. I have refined a Gengjin Treasure Armor for him, which has properties that defend against yin and evil-type spells.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Chen Jianghe accepted the storage bag and expressed his gratitude.
Being able to resist yin and evil-type spells was excellent for Ruan Tieniu. Being in the Feng Kingdom, he was surrounded by numerous demonic cultivators.
Naturally, there was no shortage of yin and evil-type artifacts and spells.
With the Gengjin Treasure Armor, Ruan Tieniu’s safety factor would rise by a significant margin.
Afterward.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the Barter Tower.
He first took a stroll around.
With nearly ninety thousand spirit stones in hand, he naturally had to exchange them for useful spirit items.
“Those Core Formation seeds preparing to enter the mystic realm have really scoured the Barter Tower clean, time and time again.”
Chen Jianghe was speechless.
After a full circuit, he hadn’t seen a single reasonable exchange request for second-tier high-grade talisman materials. All of them were ridiculously overpriced or had unreasonable demands.
But even so.
Chen Jianghe saw a disciple dressed in the standard robes of the Tiannan Sect trade a hundred-year spirit ginseng for just two pieces of Shangqing Jade.
A hundred-year spirit ginseng was a second-tier high-grade absorbable spirit item, capable of being refined into a low-grade Yuan Spirit Pill.
And it was traded for only two pieces of Shangqing Jade!
In normal times, it could have been exchanged for five pieces of Shangqing Jade.
No wonder the prices for second-tier talisman materials were so unreasonable now.
It turned out the sect disciples were footing the bill.
“Shit-stirrers.”
Chen Jianghe cursed under his breath as he left the Barter Tower.
He walked towards the Hundred Treasures Pavilion next door to attend the New Year’s Eve auction.
Four hours later.
His head was spinning as he left the Immortal Gate Market City.
This group of Core Formation seeds preparing to enter the mystic realm was the most destabilizing factor in the market.
There were several second-tier high-grade talisman materials at the auction, and with eighty-nine thousand spirit stones on him, Chen Jianghe had thought he could surely win some.
But these Core Formation seeds were bidding like they were possessed.
A single portion of second-tier high-grade talisman material, which everyone agreed was worth five thousand spirit stones.
Even at auction, it would at most go for five thousand five hundred spirit stones, a premium of about five hundred.
But at this auction.
Two Jade Water Lotus Leaves were bid up to twenty-six thousand spirit stones, meaning one portion of second-tier high-grade talisman material was inflated to thirteen thousand spirit stones.
More than double the price.
The other few second-tier high-grade talisman materials weren’t as outrageous.
But they all went for about eight thousand spirit stones per portion.
These people were complete suckers.
“It seems all the second-tier high-grade talisman materials within the sect have been cleared out by disciples like Gao Peiyao and Yuan Chenyu, who knew about the unknown mystic realm in advance!”